Casita del Rose: vacation

Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts

Traveling is always a fun activity. More so if you’re traveling to a different country with your love ones to meet familiar faces and places. However, let’s face it apart from hounding the net for cheap flights, there’s almost no way in getting around the dreaded Philippine Travel Tax.

According to the TIEZA (Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority), the travel tax is a levy imposed by the government of the Philippines, under Presidential Decree (PD) 1183, to all departing passengers. The price depends on the type of ticket you purchase and only OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) are fully exempted from paying the tax. So yes, even you’re kids would need to pay up.

TRAVEL TAX RATES	FIRST CLASS PASSAGE	ECONOMY CLASS PASSAGE
Full Travel Tax	PHP 2,700.00	PHP 1,620
Standard Reduced Travel Tax	PHP 1,350.00	PHP 810.00
Privileged Reduced Travel Tax for a Dependent of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW)	PHP 400.00	PHP 300.00

But it’s not all pain. The tax does go to worthwhile endeavors. At least half of it.

TIEZA portions that money, with 50% going to TIEZA, 40% to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for tourism-related education programs and courses. Lastly, the 10% goes to the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA).

But if you’re a family of 4 going to see Mickey Mouse in Hong Kong, that P1,620 could easily balloon to P6,480—roughly the same price of one passenger ticket to Hong Kong and back.

So, I was very happy to know that I wouldn’t have to pay the full price. Being an OFW dependent, my gang and I can avail the reduced price of P300. An 80% decrease from the full price.

All OFW dependent can avail this privilege, even if you’re not travelling with the OFW. As long as:

1. Your destination is the same country where your OFW is deployed.

2. You’re part of the OFW’s immediately family.

a. Parents

b. Spouse

c. Children

3. You have proof of family relation

a. Original NSO copy of Marriage Certificate for Spouse

b. Original NSO copy of Birth Certificate

4. Proof of OFW deployment

a. Copy of EOC, issued within a year

5. Passport and Booking confirmation

To avail of the reduced travel tax, go to the TIEZA desk at the airport and submit all your documents. Don’t worry about handing out your NSO files. They will hand it back to you. The most important part is the OEC of the OFW. They should be registered and active in the POEA system.

Afterwards, you’ll be asked to pay P300 for each passenger. A receipt and OFW dependent certificate would be given to you. This you’ll present to the check in counter as proof of travel tax payment.

So next time you travel, don’t forget about this neat trick. Go ahead and visit your OFW.

Airbnb offers alternative option where you can stay for your next vacation, especially when the budget is tight, or you're hesitant to stay in questionable hostels.

Here are some of the reasons why you should book an Airbnb room instead of the traditional hotel:

Way cheaper to stay in an Airbnb room compared to Hotels. Especially here in the Philippines, where there’s hotel scarcity. For an overnight stay in a hotel in Manila, Trivago lists the room at the lowest P900 for Kabayan Hotel at Pasay City to P18,300 a night at Solaire Casino. Compared to a range of between P600 to P2400 for Airbnb. Most of these Airbnb rooms are studio or 1BR condo’s peppering the city.

Same basic amenities between hotel and Airbnb. Airbnb hosts make sure that they provide clean sheets, toiletries, air condition and WiFi access to their guests.

There’s a more homey feeling when staying in an Airbnb room. Like, you’re just bunking in at your friend’s or cousin’s house.

You get to stay like a local. There are plenty of Airbnb rooms with complete kitchenette that lets you prepare your own food.

All the beautiful interior, in a less stuffy and more shabby chic style. Remember, Airbnb rooms are real houses of people. May it be just their vacation house in a touristy spot, or their upscale condo at the city; Airbnb rooms carry the owner’s style and vibe.

There are a lot of Airbnb rooms to choose from in various places. Which is helpful when you want to be a stone throws away from the event you’re attending or the tourist spot your heading. In Metro Manila alone, there are over six thousand active rooms to choose from.

No physical money exchanged between hosts and guests. All transactions are done under the safeguard of Airbnb.

Want to book an Airbnb room? Get it at a discounted rate by signing in using this link, for FREE!

Photo property of ClipartFest

I'm not sure if I'm lucky, or maybe the system is rigged?! Because, just after a few hours of listing my site at Airbnb, I already had two inquiries for a one-night weekend stay. But I'm not complaining.

Maybe it's the place?

Taal Lake

Tagaytay is a known tourist spot and it tends to draw the crowds during the love-month. Not only to celebrate Valentines day, but to also feel the cold Northeast wind (Amihan). Considering that Tagaytay is only an hour or two drive from the Metro--and that's already including the traffic.

So there I am, on a Saturday, driving my way to Tagaytay to meet Casita del Rose' first guests, feeling both excited and apprehensive.

Will they find the place up to their standards? Will the pictures do it justice?

More importantly, will my place still be intact after the first night?

Luckily, I arrived at the place an hour before my stated check in time of 3PM. So, I did some last minute sprucing and checking. Making sure that the place looks and smells nice.

By 2:30pm, I'm already at the lobby waiting for my guests.

We did a friendly--albeit shy--meeting and key exchange. Then I bid them a nice vacation, which I'm sure they will have.

After 4 months of planning and execution, we’ve finally listed our very first condo unit in Airbnb. We’re noob on this venture. Learning from other people’s post in the internet and hoping for the best.

I and my husband am seasoned traveler, if you count that we travel out-of-town or out-of-the-country at least once a year. And no, it’s not to a new country per year. We’re limited to the country of his work host. But we at least have a good sense and idea of what a cozy room should like and what level of service are expected.

So without further words and commentaries, we’re giving you a glimpse – and an invite to try Casita del Rose in the lovely city of Tagaytay.

Casita del Rose - double bed

Take the time to unwind in a place a few hours’ drive from the Metro. Feel the cold February weather. Relax at the shabby chic inspired room. Be a romantic and treat your wife or girlfriend to a weekend get-away with wine.

Casita del Rose is located at the 17^th floor of the Cityland Tagaytay Prime Residences building, near Olivarez College. Just before the Tagaytay Rotunda. It's a ~25sq-m one-bedroom unit with a double bed and lounge sofa that can accommodate four persons. There's air conditioning (for summer nights), a heated over-head rain shower, a mini two-door ref, microwave oven and induction cooker.